Turtle Talk

Navajo Nation Sues Interior over Chaco Canyon Protections on behalf of Allottees

January 23, 2025Matthew L.M. Fletcher

Here is the complaint in Navajo Nation v. United States (D.N.M.):

Complaint Download

Oklahoma SCT Holds State AG Cannot Override State Governor in Litigation When Blah Blah Blah

January 23, 2025Matthew L.M. Fletcher

Here is the opinion in Cherokee Nation v. Dept. of the Interior.

Briefs here.

Wisconsin COA Certifies Immutable Property Case to Wisconsin SCT (is that a punt?)

January 23, 2025Matthew L.M. Fletcher

Here are the materials in Legend Lake Property Owners Assn. v. Keshena:

COA Certification

Property Owners Opening Brief

Tribe Answer Brief

Property Owners Supp Brief

Tribe Supp Brief

Sho-Ban Intervenes in US Action against Union Pacific

January 23, 2025Matthew L.M. Fletcher

Here is the complaint in intervention in United States v. Union Pacific Railroad (D. Idaho):

24 Tribe Complaint Download

U.S. Supreme Court denies cert in Montana voting rights case

January 22, 2025Matthew Campbell

On January 21, 2025, in Jacobsen, MT Sec. of State v. Montana Democratic Party, et al., the U.S. Supreme Court declined to review the Montana Supreme Court’s decision that two Montana laws that disenfranchise Native American voters are unconstitutional. The Blackfeet Nation, the Confederated Salish and Kootenai Tribes of the Flathead Reservation, the Fort Belknap Indian Community, the Northern Cheyenne Tribe, Western Native Voice, and Montana Native Voice have repeatedly won their challenges to two Montana laws that suppressed the Native vote in Montana by restricting access.

The Montana Legislature passed HB 176 to eliminate Election Day registration, which Native American voters disproportionately rely on to cast votes in Montana. Legislators passed HB 530 to restrict third-party ballot assistance, a service that aids Native voters living on reservations who may have to travel hours to the nearest polling location due to systemic inequities. The lower courts ruled, and the Montana Supreme Court affirmed, that the laws violate provisions of the Montana Constitution, including the right to vote, equal protection, free speech, and due process.

This is the second time that Montana Legislators passed restrictions on ballot collection that the courts determined discriminated against Native voters.